The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume I Part 34

Oh, let their crime in long oblivion sleep!

'Twas theirs indeed to make, 'tis yours to keep.

Unjust, or just, is all the question now; 'Tis plain, that not repealing you allow.

To name the Test would put you in a rage; You charge not that on any former age,

But smile to think how innocent you stand, 700 Arm'd by a weapon put into your hand, Yet still remember that you wield a sword Forged by your foes against your sovereign lord; Design'd to hew the imperial cedar down, Defraud succession, and dis-heir the crown.

To abhor the makers, and their laws approve, Is to hate traitors, and the treason love.

What means it else, which now your children say, We made it not, nor will we take away?

Suppose some great oppressor had by slight 710 Of law, disseised your brother of his right, Your common sire surrendering in a fright; Would you to that unrighteous t.i.tle stand, Left by the villain's will to heir the land?

More just was Judas, who his Saviour sold; The sacrilegious bribe he could not hold, Nor hang in peace, before he render'd back the gold.

What more could you have done, than now you do, Had Oates and Bedlow, and their plot been true?

Some specious reasons for those wrongs were found; 720 Their dire magicians threw their mists around, And wise men walk'd as on enchanted ground.

But now when time has made the imposture plain (Late though he follow'd truth, and limping held her train), What new delusion charms your cheated eyes again?

The painted harlot might a while bewitch, But why the hag uncased, and all obscene with itch?

The first Reformers were a modest race; Our peers possess'd in peace their native place; And when rebellious arms o'erturn'd the state, 730 They suffer'd only in the common fate: But now the Sovereign mounts the regal chair, And mitred seats are full, yet David's bench is bare.

Your answer is, they were not dispossess'd; They need but rub their metal on the test To prove their ore: 'twere well if gold alone Were touch'd and tried on your discerning stone; But that unfaithful Test unsound will pa.s.s The dross of atheists, and sectarian bra.s.s: As if the experiment were made to hold 740 For base production, and reject the gold.

Thus men unG.o.dded may to places rise, And sects may be preferr'd without disguise: No danger to the Church or State from these; The Papist only has his writ of ease.

No gainful office gives him the pretence To grind the subject, or defraud the prince.

Wrong conscience, or no conscience, may deserve To thrive, but ours alone is privileged to starve.

Still thank yourselves, you cry; your n.o.ble race 750 We banish not, but they forsake the place; Our doors are open: true, but ere they come, You toss your 'censing Test, and fume the room; As if 'twere Toby's[129] rival to expel, And fright the fiend who could not bear the smell.

To this the Panther sharply had replied; But having gain'd a verdict on her side, She wisely gave the loser leave to chide; Well satisfied to have the But and Peace, And for the plaintiff's cause she cared the less, 760 Because she sued in _forma pauperis_; Yet thought it decent something should be said; For secret guilt by silence is betray'd.

So neither granted all, nor much denied, But answer'd with a yawning kind of pride:

Methinks such terms of proffer'd peace you bring, As once aeneas to the Italian king: By long possession all the land is mine; You strangers come with your intruding line, To share my sceptre, which you call to join. 770 You plead, like him, an ancient pedigree, And claim a peaceful seat by fate's decree.

In ready pomp your sacrificer stands, To unite the Trojan and the Latin bands, And, that the league more firmly may be tied, Demand the fair Lavinia for your bride.

Thus plausibly you veil the intended wrong, But still you bring your exiled G.o.ds along; And will endeavour, in succeeding s.p.a.ce, Those household puppets on our hearths to place. 780 Perhaps some barbarous laws have been preferr'd; I spake against the Test, but was not heard; These to rescind, and peerage to restore, My gracious Sovereign would my vote implore: I owe him much, but owe my conscience more.

Conscience is then your plea, replied the dame, Which, well inform'd, will ever be the same.

But yours is much of the chameleon hue, To change the dye with every distant view.

When first the Lion sat with awful sway, 790 Your conscience taught your duty to obey: He might have had your Statutes and your Test; No conscience but of subjects was profess'd.

He found your temper, and no farther tried, But on that broken reed, your Church, relied.

In vain the sects a.s.say'd their utmost art, With offer'd treasure to espouse their part; Their treasures were a bribe too mean to move his heart.

But when, by long experience, you had proved, How far he could forgive, how well he loved; 800 A goodness that excell'd his G.o.dlike race, And only short of Heaven's unbounded grace; A flood of mercy that o'erflow'd our isle, Calm in the rise, and fruitful as the Nile; Forgetting whence our Egypt was supplied, You thought your sovereign bound to send the tide: Nor upward look'd on that immortal spring, But vainly deem'd, he durst not be a king: Then Conscience, unrestrain'd by fear, began To stretch her limits, and extend the span; 810 Did his indulgence as her gift dispose, And made a wise alliance with her foes.

Can Conscience own the a.s.sociating name, And raise no blushes to conceal her shame?

For sure she has been thought a bashful dame.

But if the cause by battle should be tried, You grant she must espouse the regal side: O Proteous Conscience, never to be tied!

What Phoebus from the Tripod shall disclose, Which are, in last resort, your friends or foes? 820 Homer, who learn'd the language of the sky, The seeming Gordian knot would soon untie; Immortal powers the term of Conscience know, But Interest is her name with men below.

Conscience or Interest be 't, or both in one, The Panther answer'd in a surly tone, The first commands me to maintain the crown, The last forbids to throw my barriers down.

Our penal laws no sons of yours admit, Our Test excludes your tribe from benefit. 830 These are my banks your ocean to withstand, Which, proudly rising, overlooks the land; And, once let in, with unresisted sway, Would sweep the pastors and their flocks away.

Think not my judgment leads me to comply With laws unjust, but hard necessity; Imperious need, which cannot be withstood, Makes ill authentic, for a greater good.

Possess your soul with patience, and attend: A more auspicious planet may ascend; 840 Good fortune may present some happier time, With means to cancel my unwilling crime; (Unwilling, witness all ye Powers above!) To mend my errors, and redeem your love: That little s.p.a.ce you safely may allow; Your all-dispensing power protects you now.

Hold, said the Hind, 'tis needless to explain; You would postpone me to another reign; Till when you are content to be unjust: Your part is to possess, and mine to trust. 850 A fair exchange proposed of future chance, For present profit and inheritance.

Few words will serve to finish our dispute; Who will not now repeal, would persecute.

To ripen green revenge your hopes attend, Wishing that happier planet would ascend.

For shame let Conscience be your plea no more: To will hereafter, proves she might before; But she's a bawd to gain, and holds the door.

Your care about your banks infers a fear 860 Of threatening floods and inundations near; If so, a just reprise would only be Of what the land usurp'd upon the sea; And all your jealousies but serve to show Your ground is, like your neighbour-nation, low.

To intrench in what you grant unrighteous laws, Is to distrust the justice of your cause; And argues that the true religion lies In those weak adversaries you despise.

Tyrannic force is that which least you fear; 700 The sound is frightful in a Christian's ear: Avert it, Heaven! nor let that plague be sent To us from the dispeopled continent.

But piety commands me to refrain; Those prayers are needless in this monarch's reign.

Behold! how he protects your friends oppress'd, Receives the banish'd, succours the distress'd: Behold, for you may read an honest open breast.

He stands in day-light, and disdains to hide An act, to which by honour he is tied, 880 A generous, laudable, and kingly pride.

Your Test he would repeal, his peers restore; This when he says he means, he means no more.

Well, said the Panther, I believe him just, And yet---- And yet, 'tis but because you must; You would be trusted, but you would not trust.

The Hind thus briefly; and disdain'd to enlarge On power of kings, and their superior charge, As Heaven's trustees before the people's choice: 890 Though sure the Panther did not much rejoice To hear those echoes given of her once loyal voice.

The matron woo'd her kindness to the last, But could not win; her hour of grace was past.

Whom, thus persisting, when she could not bring To leave the Wolf, and to believe her king, She gave her up, and fairly wish'd her joy Of her late treaty with her new ally: Which well she hoped would more successful prove, Than was the Pigeon's and the Buzzard's love. 900 The Panther ask'd what concord there could be Betwixt two kinds whose natures disagree?

The dame replied: 'Tis sung in every street, The common chat of gossips when they meet; But, since unheard by you, 'tis worth your while To take a wholesome tale, though told in homely style.

A plain good man,[130] whose name is understood (So few deserve the name of plain and good), Of three fair lineal lordships stood possess'd, And lived, as reason was, upon the best. 910 Inured to hardships from his early youth, Much had he done, and suffer'd for his truth: At land and sea, in many a doubtful fight, Was never known a more adventurous knight, Who oftener drew his sword, and always for the right.

As fortune would (his fortune came, though late) He took possession of his just estate: Nor rack'd his tenants with increase of rent; Nor lived too sparing, nor too largely spent; But overlook'd his hinds; their pay was just, 920 And ready, for he scorn'd to go on trust: Slow to resolve, but in performance quick; So true, that he was awkward at a trick.

For little souls on little shifts rely, And coward arts of mean expedients try; The n.o.ble mind will dare do anything but lie.

False friends, his deadliest foes, could find no way But shows of honest bluntness, to betray: That unsuspected plainness he believed; He looked into himself, and was deceived. 930 Some lucky planet sure attends his birth, Or Heaven would make a miracle on earth; For prosperous honesty is seldom seen To bear so dead a weight, and yet to win.

It looks as fate with nature's law would strive, To show plain-dealing once an age may thrive: And, when so tough a frame she could not bend, Exceeded her commission to befriend.

This grateful man, as Heaven increased his store.

Gave G.o.d again, and daily fed his poor. 940 His house with all convenience was purvey'd; The rest he found, but raised the fabric where he pray'd; And in that sacred place his beauteous wife Employ'd her happiest hours of holy life.

Nor did their alms extend to those alone, Whom common faith more strictly made their own; A sort of Doves[131] were housed too near their hall, Who cross the proverb, and abound with gall.

Though some, 'tis true, are pa.s.sively inclined, The greater part degenerate from their kind; 950 Voracious birds, that hotly bill and breed, And largely drink, because on salt they feed.

Small gain from them their bounteous owner draws; Yet, bound by promise, he supports their cause, As corporations privileged by laws.

That house which harbour to their kind affords, Was built, long since, G.o.d knows for better birds; But fluttering there, they nestle near the throne, And lodge in habitations not their own, By their high crops and corny gizzards known. 960 Like Harpies, they could scent a plenteous board, Then to be sure they never fail'd their lord: The rest was form, and bare attendance paid; They drank, and ate, and grudgingly obey'd.

The more they fed, they raven'd still for more; They drain'd from Dan, and left Beersheba poor.

All this they had by law, and none repined; The preference was but due to Levi's kind; But when some lay-preferment fell by chance, The gourmands made it their inheritance. 970 When once possess'd, they never quit their claim; For then 'tis sanctified to Heaven's high name; And, hallow'd thus, they cannot give consent, The gift should be profaned by worldly management.

Their flesh was never to the table served; Though 'tis not thence inferr'd the birds were starved; But that their master did not like the food, As rank, and breeding melancholy blood.

Nor did it with his gracious nature suit, Even though they were not Doves, to persecute: 980 Yet he refused (nor could they take offence) Their glutton kind should teach him abstinence.

Nor consecrated grain their wheat he thought, Which, new from treading, in their bills they brought: But left his hinds each in his private power, That those who like the bran might leave the flour.

He for himself, and not for others, chose, Nor would he be imposed on, nor impose; But in their faces his devotion paid, And sacrifice with solemn rites was made, 990 And sacred incense on his altars laid.

Besides these jolly birds, whose corpse impure Repaid their commons with their salt-manure; Another farm[132] he had behind his house, Not overstock'd, but barely for his use: Wherein his poor domestic poultry fed, And from his pious hands received their bread.

Our pamper'd Pigeons, with malignant eyes, Beheld these inmates, and their nurseries: Though hard their fare, at evening, and at morn, 1000 A cruise of water and an ear of corn; Yet still they grudged that modic.u.m, and thought A sheaf in every single grain was brought.

Fain would they filch that little food away, While unrestrain'd those happy gluttons prey.

And much they grieved to see so nigh their hall, The bird that warn'd St Peter of his fall; That he should raise his mitred crest on high, And clap his wings, and call his family To sacred rites; and vex the ethereal powers 1010 With midnight matins at uncivil hours: Nay more, his quiet neighbours should molest, Just in the sweetness of their morning rest.

Beast of a bird, supinely when he might Lie snug and sleep, to rise before the light!

What if his dull forefathers used that cry, Could he not let a bad example die?

The world was fallen into an easier way; This age knew better than to fast and pray.

Good sense in sacred worship would appear 1020 So to begin, as they might end the year.

Such feats in former times had wrought the falls Of crowing Chanticleers[133] in cloister'd walls.